While it's still early in the year, it's always interesting to see which teams are watching which others. In this case, it's almost certain the Islanders are watching Chicago, as it would be far easier and cheaper for the franchise to scout the Devils back in New Jersey -- a team the Islanders just beat 3-2 in overtime on Monday.
The Islanders have a glaring need on the right side of their defense, and Chicago has a pair of players who could be acquired to join New York's defense corps.
First, Louis Crevier is thought to be available. He's a 6'8 monster, drafted in the 7th round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and has 72 games under his belt. He posted two assists last night, and through 16 games this season, has two goals and eight points total.
He could very easily jump right into New York's lineup, perhaps as an ideal partner for Alexander Romanov or Adam Pelech, with Ryan Pulock now stapled alongside Matthew Schaefer.
Crevier's just 24, and with his size, why would Chicago be looking to trade him?
For starters, they have too many defensemen. Last night, they ran an 11-forward, 7-defensemen set-up, something far from ideal.
Chicago also wants to add an NHL forward to the mix of their roster, as they continue to plow along in their rebuild. The Islanders are flush with NHL forwards and would likely be open to flipping a forward to improve their defense.
The other option thought to be available in Chicago is Connor Murphy, a 32-year-old veteran right-shot blue liner and steady presence for all 762 games of his career. He's spent the last 9 years of his career with the Blackhawks, remaining loyal throughout the long rebuilding process that's gone on.
Murphy's even worn a letter since the 2020-21 season, showcasing how much his leadership means to the team.
He's available for the same reasons Crevier is, just too many defensemen pushing and not enough spots. If Chicago gets the right forward or pick package in return, Murphy, a pending UFA, will be available.
He's expected to be dealt ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, but it's never too early to make an early run.
The Maple Leafs fell to the Boston Bruins 5-3 at TD Garden on Tuesday. Starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz was unable to finish the game, getting pulled after 20 minutes due to what the team said was a lower-body injury.
Stolarz allowed three goals on 11 shots in the game. He was pulled for performance-related reasons in his previous match, which was also against the Bruins, where he allowed four goals on 19 shots faced.
Following Tuesday's game, Craig Berube didn't feel Stolarz' upper-body injury was serious.
Toronto's next option in goal, Joseph Woll, is unavaiable to the Leafs as the goaltender continues his conditioning stint with the Marlies. Woll made 25 saves on 28 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In all likelyhood, Dennis Hildeby is set to make his fourth consecutive NHL appearance when the Leafs host the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. Despite an 0-2-0 record, Hildeby has posted a .909 save percentage under difficult circumstance as the club tries to snap a 3-game losing streak. In six games with the Marlies, Akhtyamov has a 4-2-0 record with an .894 save percentage.
Parcell added that the injury caused McNeil pain when he swung a bat late in the season, and that he is expected to be ready to go for spring training.
McNeil had a bounce back campaign in 2025, posting a .746 OPS across 462 plate appearances over 122 games.
He again provided tons of versatility, seeing time at second base, all three outfield spots, and designated hitter.
"I think probably less," Stearns replied when asked if McNeil is in the mix for center. "I think we love Jeff’s positional versatility, but I don’t see us looking at that as a significant portion of his time for next year."
McNeil, 33, is owed $15.75 million in 2026 in what is the fourth and final guaranteed year of the deal he signed before the 2023 campaign. The Mets hold a club option for the 2027 season that is worth $15.75 million and contains a $2 million buyout.
Prospect Jett Williams is not expected to break camp with the team, but his debut could come at some point early in the season -- and his best fit might be second base.
There's also a chance the Mets add a free agent infielder such as Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette.
Simon Nemec scored a hat trick and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves on 20 shots in the New Jersey Devils' 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at the United Center.
"He showed the forwards how to do it,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nemec. "All three goals he is in forward positioning and finishing it. But good on him to find those spots and to finish. We worked this morning about activating our D and getting our defense involved and he certainly was paying attention.”
"That was probably the first hat trick in my career," Nemec told NJD.TV. "I was never a shooter or a scoring guy. I’m glad for that, but obviously a great team win."
Blackhawks star Connor Bedard opened the scoring with 1:25 remaining in the first period while Chicago was on a five-on-three power play with Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon in the penalty box.
More important than the 1-0 score after 20 minutes was the Devils losing two forwards, Cody Glass and Zack MacEwen, with apparent injuries.
At the 7:27 mark, MacEwen got hit by Connor Murphy behind Chicago's goal. The 29-year-old looked to be in pain as he made his way to the bench and down the tunnel. In the final seconds of the period, Glass crashed into the boards and was holding his arm as he skated off the ice into the Devils' locker room.
Glass came out for the second period and was on the ice for one 17-second shift before disappearing back to the locker room. MacEwen did not return.
Per reporters in Chicago, there is no update on Glass or MacEwen. The club will be off on Thursday, so any news will wait until Friday.
Even with a depleted lineup, the Devils tied the game with 14 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Nemec's backhand shot beat Blackhawks' goaltender Spencer Knight for a tied 1-1 score entering the second intermission. It marked the first time in the 21-year-old's career that he scored in back-to-back games.
With the Devils down to 10 forwards, Chicago regained the lead in the opening minutes of the third period. Landon Slaggert, who was recalled from the American Hockey League on Wednesday morning, scored his first goal of the season on a tip-in.
For a second time, New Jersey tied the game. The Devils' new-look top line delivered, with Dawson Mercer scoring his ninth goal of the season. Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk collected the assists.
Sam Lafferty gave Chicago their third lead of the night, but it was short-lived as Nemec scored his second of the night less than three minutes later. Hughes picked up his second assist of the period.
Nemec called the game 3:26 into overtime for his first career NHL hat trick. Markstrom picked up the primary assist for his second point of 2025-26.
"He was waving for it with his stick, he was wide open, " Markstrom told NJD.TV. "A little soft pass, he had to wait for it a little bit, but it was his night tonight. Huge game for him and to top it off with the OT hat trick is huge.”
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DENVER — For Gabriel Landeskog, it wasn’t so much relief over ending a regular-season goal-scoring drought that had stretched to 1,347 days.
It was more about the excitement for the Colorado Avalanche captain of getting to tell his biggest fan. Only, he had to wait to deliver the news since his young son, Luke, was sleeping after dad knocked one in.
Landeskog’s second-period goal in a 4-1 win over Anaheim on Tuesday night was his first score in the regular season since March 5, 2022. He missed the last three regular seasons due to a knee injury before making his return in the playoffs in April. He scored a goal in the Dallas series.
“My son will be happy (Wednesday) when he wakes up,” Landeskog, who turns 33 on Nov. 23, said after the game. “He keeps asking me (about scoring) and I’m like, ‘No, not yet.’”
There have been plenty of close calls, though. He’s had two goals overturned this season after challenges by opposing teams. It’s become such a thing he almost was anticipating a Ducks challenge.
“I thought my stick maybe caught the goalie’s stick — goaltender interference or something,” the left wing cracked. “I got back to the bench and obviously nothing to argue there. Felt good.”
So did the cheers from the capacity crowd after he lined in a rebound off a shot from Valeri Nichushkin. That goal, those cheers, were of course worth the long, arduous journey to get back.
Before his return seven months ago in the playoffs, Landeskog’s last NHL appearance was June 26, 2022, when he and the Avalanche beat Tampa Bay to capture the Stanley Cup. He’s dealt with a chronically injured right knee, which led to cartilage transplant surgery on May 10, 2023.
Now, the Avalanche have their captain back in full capacity. He’s led the Avalanche to an NHL-best 11-1-5 (27 points) start.
“He’s just the voice of reason,” goaltender Scott Wedgewood said of Landeskog, who’s in his 14th season as captain. “He’s just a calm, collected human being. ... We all know the story and what he’s gone through. It radiates off him.”
Landeskog is steadily working his way back into the form that made him an All-Star in 2018-19. He’s playing on the third line and averaging 13 minutes, 43 seconds of ice time per game. (He’s averaged 19:18 over his career since being selected No. 2 overall in 2011.)
As for how he’s feeling, he said it’s, “not perfect. I don’t think anybody’s perfect during the season. You’ve got bumps and bruises along the way. Going into training camp is probably as good as you’re going to feel all year.”
He added that, “bad days aren’t bad at all anymore. There are things I have to do on a day-to-day basis to make sure I feel good and feel good enough to play. You’re never going to be 100%. I don’t think many guys are. No different with me.
“But I would say the difference between the good and the bad days are smaller now than they have been in years past, for sure.”
The goal-scoring slump weighed on him a little bit, he acknowledged. But he found other ways to contribute, including a fight with Tampa Bay’s Charle-Edouard D’Astous in a 3-2 win over the Lightning last week. Landeskog has four assists this season.
“I try not to focus on the outcome, just kind of surrender that and focus on what I can do,” said Landeskog, who plans to play for Sweden at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February. “Having said that, you like to go home and know that you at least got one on the scoresheet.”
Notes: Nichushkin suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday that will cause him to miss some time, coach Jared Bednar said before an optional practice Wednesday. “I just don’t know how much.” ... Mackenzie Blackwood is slated to start in goal Thursday against Buffalo.
Despite the unsavory finish to the 2025 MLB season, the Giants’ roster has talent for new manager Tony Vitello to work with.
Vitello, speaking with The San Francisco Standard’s John Shea at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, pinpointed San Francisco roster’s strengths.
“I like the leadership factor,” Vitello said. “I wasn’t a part of last year’s team, so I don’t know if I’m speaking out of turn, but the impression I get is there are some guys who fully have the capability to lead and want to lead.”
There is no clear-cut “best player” on the Giants, but there are plenty of all-star caliber players. Logan Webb, Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers have a combined six all-star appearances.
“That core group of guys that was on the field last year and on the mound are guys that have been successful, and I think are more on a trajectory moving forward as opposed to fizzling out in their career,” Vitello mentioned.
Aside from the proven core, the Giants have prospects to get up to speed as well. In Vitello’s eyes, getting the younger players on the right track is key.
“The big X factor, as I’ve dived deep into the roster: There’s some young guys that could explode onto the scene if things click for them the right way, or at the very least, could be household names in San Francisco by being legitimate everyday guys on the mound or the field.”
If Vitello and company can unlock the potential of prospects like Bryce Eldridge, that can provide an added boost for San Francisco.
In the next few months, Vitello and the Giants might acquire new strengths via MLB free agency.
Anthony Volpe was supposed to be the answer at shortstop for the Yankees, but after three seasons of poor results, that may no longer be the case.
Volpe's offense and, surprisingly, his defense have regressed each season as the everyday shortstop, and now that he's undergone shoulder surgery this offseason, his effectiveness in 2026 and beyond is up for debate. The injury clearly affected his on-field performance in 2025. GM Brian Cashman said as much in his end-of-season news conference, but also said he "believed" in Volpe.
But belief can only go so far when you're vying for championships. And if the Yanks hope to get back to the October Classic sooner rather than later, an upgrade at the position may be needed.
Enter Bo Bichette.
The Blue Jays infielder has tormented the Yankees in the AL East for years, but now hits free agency for the first time. Should New York take the big swing and sign Bichette?
Here are the pros and cons...
PROS
Bichette had a massive bounce back season in 2025.
After playing in just 81 games in 2024, Bichette was on the field for 139 games and slashed .311/.357/.483 with an OPS of .840. He had career bests in average, OBP and OPS -- taking away his 46-game rookie season and the shortened 2020 year. His 18 home runs may be down, but that's due to the knee injury that wiped out most of his September. Otherwise, he would have hit the 20-homer mark for the fourth time in five seasons.
He also would have flirted with his career-best mark in RBI after driving in 94 in his 139 games. His previous best was 102 back in 2021. So the production is there, but Bichette also added plate discipline to his repertoire this season.
He walked 40 times, which is just one fewer than his best back in 2022. If Bichette hadn't gotten injured, he would have shattered his personal record.
He also struck out 91 times this season. Sure, he would have likely eclipsed the 100-K mark for the fourth time in five seasons, but he was also pacing to have a career low of 115 (in seasons where he played 100-plus games).
Apr 27, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) tags out New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) on a steal attempt at second base during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
According to Baseball Savant, Bichette was in the 86th percentile in strikeout percentage this past season (14.5) and had a whiff percentage of 18.4, which is in the 83rd percentile. Compare that to Volpe, who had a strikeout percentage of 25.2 and was ranked in the 24th percentile. His whiff percentage was 25.1 and in the 43rd percentile.
The Yanks need to cut down on the strikeouts, and Bichette is an upgrade over Volpe in that department.
And then we have the defense. While Bichette isn't going to win a Gold Glove any time soon, he's serviceable at shortstop and proved he can even play second base when he shifted there in the World Series, of all times.
Also, Bichette is a tough, gritty player. He returned from his severe knee sprain in the World Series and could have earned MVP honors if the Blue Jays won. In the seven-game series, Bichette went 8-for-23 (.348) with a home run and six RBI in limited playing time.
For his career, Bichette is a .311 hitter in the postseason, albeit in just 13 games, but he has proven he can hit.
CONS
The biggest con would be the money the Yankees would have to spend.
It's being reported that the Yanks want to operate under $300 million, and signing Bichette would mean other high-priced free agents like Cody Bellinger could be off the table. With the needs at outfield outweighing shortstop, the Yankees may not have an appetite for what the 27-year-old will likely get paid.
Money aside, New York would also have to be wary of Bichette's recent injury history. He missed about a month due to a knee injury in 2025 and missed half the year in 2024 due to various injuries. Bichette's age is on his side, but New York may have pause to pull the trigger since they already have an injured shortstop on the roster.
Bichette's defense also leaves a lot to be desired. The shortstop was a -13 in OAA in 2025 and has been a negative in the field in every season aside from 2020 (1) and 2024 (1), and in both years, he didn't play more than 81 games. Despite Volpe's flaws at the plate, he is a Gold Glove winner and is just one year removed from being worth 13 OAA.
VERDICT
The Yankees should swing big for Bichette this offseason. They've let other high-profile free agent shortstops go in the past (Corey Seager, Trea Turner) in favor of their farm, and it hasn't worked out.
It's not necessarily too late for Volpe in the Bronx, but if the Yanks are serious about winning, they need an upgrade -- and Bichette provides that.
I don't have faith the team will do what's needed to acquire Bichette and Bellinger, who they need more, this offseason. It's likelier the team will roll with Volpe when he returns from injury and use their one big expenditure on the outfield.
I hope I'm wrong, because Bichette makes too much sense.
After a resounding defeat against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, the Montreal Canadiens will try to bounce back on Thursday night when they take on the Dallas Stars at the Bell Centre. If the Habs have struggled against the Kings for the last few years, they’ve not done much better against the Texans, only winning three of the last 10 duels. They were victorious in the previous game, a 3-1 win last January.
Tonight’s tilt will be the first of two meetings between the two sides; the second will take place in Dallas on January 4. The Stars are currently second in the Central Division and fourth in the league with 23 points, just one point ahead of the Sainte-Flanelle, but they have played one more game. The visitors are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak and are flying high after winning their first game in Ottawa in nearly a decade.
After sitting out the last two games, Jakub Dobes will be back in the net for the first time since his emotional reaction to the 4-3 overtime defeat against the New Jersey Devils. The rookie goaltender has faced the Stars only once in his young career, in the win mentioned above. He had stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced and was named the second star of the tilt behind Alex Newhook, who had scored the game-winning goal. Historically, Samuel Montembeault has also had success against the visitors with a 2-2-1 record with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
The Stars’ starter has not been announced yet, but Jake Oettinger has played 12 of their 17 games. The netminder is expected to be named to Team USA for the upcoming Olympics, even though his stats have not been as good as they usually are. Against Montreal, he’s got a 5-2-0 record, with a 2.48 GAA and a .907 GAA. As for backup Casey DeSmith, he’s 3-2-2 with a 2.38 GAA and a .921 SV.
While captain Nick Suzuki wasn’t at practice yesterday, he’s expected to play tonight, which is good news for the Canadiens since he’s got 14 points in 10 games against the visitors. Brendan Gallagher is the Habs’ second most productive player with seven points in 17 games, while Noah Dobson completes the top three with six points in eight games.
Tyler Seguin is the Stars’ most productive forward against the Tricolore with 31 points in 35 games, but he has slowed down considerably in the last few years and only has seven points in 17 games this season. Matt Duchene comes in second place with 22 points in 27 games, but an upper-body injury currently sidelines him, and he has only played four games this season. Top scorer Mikko Rantanen has 14 points in 15 duels with the Canadiens and is having a great season so far with 23 points in 17 games. Montreal will also want to keep a close eye on Jason Robertson, who has seven points in eight games against the Habs.
This game will be a good measuring stick for the Canadiens, given the Stars’ ranking and the fact that they’ve made the Western Conference final for the last three seasons. The Canadiens will also need to be disciplined, as the visitors have the second-best power play in the league, with a 32.8% success rate. Their penalty killing unit is nowhere near as good as they’ve got the seventh-worst success rate in the league at just 73.6%.
This could be just what the doctor ordered for the Habs’ man-advantage since it hasn’t produced a single goal in the last three games. While the top unit can move the puck with ease, lately, they’ve tended to pass the puck too much for too long instead of just shooting the puck. A goal doesn’t always have to come from a spectacular build-up, and the young Habs would do well to keep it simple at times.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch the game in French on RDS and in English on TSN2 and Victory +.
As the Mets' offseason shakes out, the huge domino that will fall regarding the offense isPete Alonso.
With Alonso a free agent for the second consecutive year, it can be argued that he is the best fit to fill the Mets' power need and that Alonso's most logical landing spot is right back in Queens
But with Alonso reportedly seeking a seven-year deal and with his free agency potentially dragging out, New York could be forced to move on without him in order to remove the risk of losing other quality options.
No matter what happens with Alonso, though, the Mets should be looking to add more offense.
If Alonso leaves, New York's goal should be adding two impact bats.
If Alonso stays, the goal should be adding one other legitimate bat in addition to him.
Here are the pros and cons of signing the infielder...
Alex Bregman / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
PROS
Bregman would bring three important elements to the Mets: a plus bat, plus defense, and leadership.
Offensively, while Bregman might not get back to the heights he experienced with the Astros earlier in his career, he remains an above average hitter.
In 114 games last season for the Red Sox, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers and 28 doubles -- in a year that was interrupted by a quad strain. The 128 OPS+ he put up was his best since 2022, and he continued to be elite when it came to making contact.
Bregman struck out just 70 times in 495 plate appearances in 2025, and has never fanned more than 97 times in a season.
A look at his advanced numbers show that Bregman was in the 79th percentile in batting run value. And he was near the top of the league in squared-up percentage (97th percentile), chase percentage (95th percentile), whiff percentage (92nd percentile), and strikeout rate (88th percentile).
Defensively, Bregman was strong at third base, where he was in the 83rd percentile and worth 3 OAA (Outs Above Average).
Bregman will be entering his age-32 season in 2026, so it's fair to believe there could be some serious regression on the back end of the contract he signs.
About that contract...
Despite Bregman being older, most projections have him getting a deal between five-and-seven years.
It's hard to see any team going to seven years for Bregman and it's difficult to envision the Mets going to six -- or even five. So he could be out of the Mets' comfort range if a team guarantees him more than four years.
Bregman also doesn't hit for a ton of power, which could make him a less than ideal fit in a world where the Mets are trying to replace Alonso's bat.
There's also the Mets' glut of infielders to consider.
As of now, Brett Baty is penciled in for significant playing time at third base. There's also the presence of Jeff McNeil (who could be a trade candidate) and Ronny Mauricio. Looking down the line a bit, Jett Williams -- who could profile best at second base -- could be an option early in 2026.
VERDICT
Along with Bo Bichette, I would rank Bregman near the top of the list of the free agent position players the Mets should pursue.
While Bregman's best fit is third base, he could potentially be used at second base in a scenario where New York trades McNeil and/or Williams.
Ideally, a Bregman signing would be paired with the return of Alonso, which would make New York's lineup truly fearsome.
Forward led chant after Leeds won promotion in April
Wilder signs him to help struggling Championship club
Patrick Bamford has joined Sheffield United seven months after leading derogatory chants about their manager, Chris Wilder.
The 32-year-old striker, a free agent since leaving Leeds, has signed a contract with the Championship strugglers until January. His seven-year career at Elland Road was ended by mutual consent in August.
Tony Vitello is still adjusting to his first MLB gig with the Giants, and he has the perfect mentors to help him maneuver this new avenue in San Francisco.
With former Giants managers and franchise icons Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker in advisory roles with the team now, Vitello has leaned on them and their lessons already have struck him like a Hollywood movie.
“There’s times with this job where you feel you’re almost lost in the forest and you’re going to have to find your way. And then you talk to those guys, and you feel like you’re in a Marvel movie and you’ve got a force field or a Captain America shield that can help you with anything,” Vitello said in an exclusive interview with The San Francisco Standard‘s John Shea. “If it’s about the game, anything those guys say, you can fully take it to the bank.
“It’s very helpful and comforting and builds confidence in the back of your mind.”
The one concern for some on the outside is Vitello’s inexperience at the major league level.
Vitello, who became the first manager in MLB history hired directly from the college ranks with no professional baseball experience, spent more than the last two decades working in college baseball. He had stints as an assistant at Missouri (2003-10), TCU (2011-13) and Arkansas (2014-17) before being hired as Tennessee’s coach in June 2017.
In eight seasons with the Volunteers, Vitello led the program to a 341-131 record with two SEC regular-season and tournament titles. He also led them to their first national championship during the 2024 season.
But perhaps “inexperience” goes out the window when you have Bochy and Baker’s brains to pick.
Bochy managed the Giants for 13 seasons from 2007 to 2019, leading the Giants to three World Series wins.
After retiring as a player, Baker served as the manager of the Giants from 1993 to 2002. Baker was named NL Manager of the Year three times with the Giants and won the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros.
The Giants parted ways with Bob Melvin after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Now, all eyes will be on Vitello as the Giants hope he can help bring winning baseball back to the Bay.
After a humbling 126-102 loss Tuesday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors needed a fix in less than 24 hours to avoid another consecutive road loss.
“We weren’t exactly panicking, we were 6-6 and there’s 70 games left,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said to reporters Wednesday after the bounce-back win over the Spurs. “But we needed to rediscover our identity.”
The Warriors shot poorly out of the gate against San Antonio, but Kerr saw an immediate improvement from the prior night.
“Even though we scored 14 points in the first quarter, I liked the process. The ball was moving, everybody was sprinting into ball screens, sprinting the floor, getting to our spots in transition, competing defensively,” Kerr noted. “It just felt like our team out there.”
“When you lose, you got to assess what’s going on,” Curry said to reporters Wednesday after the win. “Don’t be afraid of changes and then that means everybody being ready to adapt to whatever you’re asked to do. Especially with a team with high expectations, we’re not going to sit in a situation and just think that things are going to change on their own.”
The Warriors did not seem complacent Wednesday. Their 16-point comeback was their largest of the young season, eclipsing the 14-point comeback against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 23.
“I just felt like we were connected. The guys were embarrassed [Tuesday] night. We were a little out of whack and this happens,” Kerr said. “…In the 82-game season, you’re going to have spells. But the important thing is to rediscover your identity and your competitive spirit, and that’s what I saw tonight.”
The rediscovery of that identity could have been a result of those extended meetings after Tuesday night’s reality check.
The Warriors look to maintain that identity in a Friday night rematch against the Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
For the first time in the new campaign, the Celtics have multiple days off, and that feels like a good chance to take inventory on what we’ve seen as part of the team’s 6-7 seesaw start.
The good news: Boston has a +4.1 point differential that ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference and 11th overall in the NBA, even if it’s aided by a couple of blowouts inside TD Garden. The bad news: The Celtics have a league-worst minus-2.1 win differential, suggesting that they’ve coughed up a couple winnable games based on their efficiency, per Cleaning the Glass data.
Or maybe that’s actually good news. While Boston’s record is somewhat pedestrian — team sits 11th overall in the Eastern Conference after Wednesday’s games — the Celtics could just as easily be nestled in the logjam behind the streaking, conference-leading Pistons, if not their lackluster 2-5 record in crunch-time games.
The Celtics are figuring out this new-look roster on the fly. Coach Joe Mazzulla has tinkered with both his starting lineup and who he’s leaned on off the bench, searching for the right combination of energy and rebounding around the team’s returning core. Maybe we should have expected late-game growing pains for a team learning how to navigate life while Jayson Tatum rehabs from Achilles surgery.
But we’d suggest that there’s been more good than bad, and sometimes the losses have masked some of the big-picture progress that has occurred, including some encouraging early returns from a handful of young players trying to carve out bigger roles.
With this three-day break, we’re taking a step back and offering 13 thoughts and 13 notable stats from the 13 roster players who have touched the floor for Boston so far this season through 13 games.
In Part 1 of our three-part series, we’ll focus on Boston’s core four starters. Next up Friday will be the team’s key reserves.
1. Jaylen Brown
One number: 31.3
That’s the percentage of Brown’s shot attempts that have come in the long midrange (from 14 feet to the 3-point stripe) this season. It’s the highest output in the league, far ahead of even midrange-loving Kevin Durant (26.7 percent of shots in long mid-range).
But Brown has been thriving in that spot. He’s shooting 56 percent (44 of 79) from the long midrange and 51 percent on midrange shots overall. It feels like every midrange shot is going in as he hangs in the air above his defender.
Brown’s 3-point shot has been streaky, but he’s also showing off some nifty footwork while getting excellent looks in the midrange, and it’s a big-reason for his team-leading 27 points per game.
Brown has been fantastic while elevating into a harsher spotlight while Tatum is rehabbing. He’s putting up All-NBA numbers and on solid efficiency while shooting 51.6 percent on 19.8 shots per game.
His assist numbers (4.2 per game) should climb a bit when his teammates start knocking down shots, but even when Boston was stumbling through an 0-3 start, it felt like Brown was doing everything he could to put this team in position to win.
After a rare misstep in Philly on Tuesday, Brown took the blame for missing a box out in a key spot. He’s been a true leader with both his play and his voice.
2. Derrick White
One number: 29.2
That’s White’s 3-point percentage this season, down 9.2 percent from last season and 10.4 percent from Boston’s title campaign. His shot-making woes extend to other portions of the court — including at the rim (down 14 percent from last season) and in the short midrange (down 24 percent from last season).
One thought
Would it be oversimplifying things to suggest that much of Boston’s woes can be traced solely to White’s shot-making? It probably would.
White has still been elite at generating “Stocks” (steals plus blocks) and ranks eighth in the NBA with 2.85 Stocks per game. His assist percentage is up and his turnover percentage is way down. The Celtics still have a solid +4.2 net rating in his team-high 422 minutes of floor time.
Still, we can’t help but wonder if White making 3s more consistently would mask some of the team’s missteps. We don’t suspect those shooting woes will persist, and White should eventually thrive, even with additional attention this season.
3. Payton Pritchard
One number: 108.2
That’s the total number of points per 100 shot attempts that Pritchard is averaging this season, which is down 20.6 points per 100 shots from last season, per Cleaning the Glass data.
Like White, Pritchard’s 3-point shot has evaded him at times this season, but he’s also found other ways to make up for those misses.
One thought
Maybe a haircut is all Pritchard needed. Move over Jayson Tatum and his top-five designation after a fresh cut. Pritchard joked after Wednesday’s win over the Grizzlies — a game in which he was a team-best +42 in 30 minutes — that a haircut might have helped him play more like his usual self.
Like Brown, Pritchard has thrived in the midrange, shooting a staggering 61 percent on 59 attempts there. The Celtics have a +9.4 net rating in Pritchard’s 414 minutes of floor time.
Getting Pritchard and White back to playing like their more familiar selves would go a long way toward generating the consistency the Celtics are seeking. Pritchard is showing he can impact winning beyond the Sixth Man role.
That is Boston’s defensive rating in Queta’s 311 minutes of floor time, which is the second-best mark in the entire NBA among players with at least 10 games played, trailing only Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell (98.6).
Queta is third in the NBA with a +18.1 net rating, trailing only the Denver tandem of Nikola Jokic (+21) and Christian Braun (+18.2).
One thought
All eyes were on the frontcourt after Boston’s offseason changes and Queta has been an absolute rock there while logging the lion’s share of center minutes for Boston.
Queta is averaging 8.9 points and 8.1 rebounds. He’s shooting 64.9 percent from the floor. The Celtics have outscored opponents by double-digit points during Queta’s floor time in six of their 13 games, and he’s been a positive in nine of the 13 overall.
Yes, he missed a key box-out against Utah that really hurt. Otherwise, he’s been a screen-setting, rim-running machine who has made tremendous progress since his Boston arrival in 2023.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is making a big push to conquer Europe, both on and off the court.
But not everyone is happy with basketball's premier domestic competition's plans to make waves on the continent.
The 2025-26 NBA season got under way last month and featured a record number of European players - influencing the league's desire to do more in Europe.
A total of 71 European players are in the league, including players from the United Kingdom and France. Five of the NBA's last seven Most Valuable Player award winners have also been from Europe.
Basketball is also the continent's fastest growing and second-most popular sport, with Germany currently Fiba's World Cup champions.
Despite its popularity, though, basketball takes home less than 1% of Europe's $45bn (£33.7bn) sports media and sponsorship markets.
The NBA hopes to cash in on this growth, but the already existing EuroLeague questions the NBA's current proposals for a European league.
What are the NBA's Europe plans?
French forward Victor Wembanyama, who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs, is one of the league's most popular and talented players [Getty Images]
The NBA has proposed the launch of a semi-open European league in the next two years.
Initial plans for 'NBA Europe' are for 10 to 12 set franchises that would stay in the league on an annual basis.
A league of potentially 16 teams is being looked at, combining those set franchises with open spots that teams will be able to qualify for.
The nuances of how teams can qualify is still to be worked out. One option is through performance in the Basketball Champions League, effectively European basketball's second-tier competition at present.
There are other long-term plans from the NBA for the league, including the number of set franchises being doubled and the league being open for Europe-wide qualification.
Why is the NBA confident of success?
Al Ahly Tripoli won the most recent season of the Basketball Africa League [Getty Images]
The popularity of both basketball and the NBA is on the rise across Europe.
Basketball is the UK's second-biggest participation sport, behind football, according to Sport England.
The NBA has announced plans to hold six games across Europe in four different European cities across the next three seasons, with London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris all to host games between 2026 and 2028.
While basketball is popular across the continent, there is an agreed consensus from both the NBA and EuroLeague, its European counterparts, that there is further room for significant growth in the sport.
Talks for a proposed 'NBA Europe' with potential investors, stakeholders and teams are at a preliminary stage, but further talks are planned for the "near and immediate future".
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said that the coming months will give the NBA a "good sense of where we are in terms of level of interest".
JP Morgan and The Raine Group have been appointed as advisers for the league's plans, while the NBA is also currently running a similar competition in Africa - the Basketball Africa League.
Why is EuroLeague unhappy?
Real Madrid have one of basketball's most successful sides in Europe [Getty Images]
Last month, Tatum told BBC Sport that the NBA wanted to collaborate with EuroLeague over plans and that any NBA Europe plans would be to help the sport's overall growth.
However, EuroLeague chief executive Paulius Motiejunas said the NBA's proposals would only "hurt" the sport and that an additional league is "not necessary".
"I'm here to grow basketball in Europe, to make it better," Motiejunas told BBC Sport. "From time to time, you have these new projects or new ideas coming. They can either grow the status quo or make it much better or they can hurt.
"I truly believe that this will only hurt the status quo rather than make it better if it continues to be in a way that it has been presented."
As far as EuroLeague is concerned, the NBA's early plans are similar to its current structure of a semi-open league of core franchises, as well as associated clubs, with the EuroLeague currently having promoted spots available out of the EuroCup.
Part of the NBA's remit is to target major cities without permanently licensed franchises in major cities with permanent top-tier EuroLeague teams in the United Kingdom, Berlin and Rome.
This concept is not new for EuroLeague, which has been attempting to target similar markets for a number of years.
"We've built the business around basketball. We know the markets, [where] the basketball is really mature," Motiejunas explained.
"They are coming and they are creating business and using basketball to do it. It is a completely different approach because if you take the cities that they have announced, we've been looking at these cities for last 10 years.
"It is not easy to unlock them because of football, because of the different mentality and because of different sports that are there. We know how hard it is.
"That's why I say we wish they would tap into our know-how and work together."
EuroLeague remains open to discussions with the NBA over its plans, but it is not hopeful.
What could it mean for basketball in the United Kingdom?
The London Lions have been part of EuroCup since the 2022-23 season [Getty Images]
Both the NBA and EuroLeague agree that the UK is ripe for opportunities.
Speaking on NBA Europe plans, Tatum said: "The UK is going to play a significant role in the proposed European league. For the first time ever, [there will be] permanent franchises in the UK that will play top tier league basketball across Europe.
"I think that will continue to fuel the growth of basketball in the UK."
While the London Lions, who currently play in the EuroCup, are not a top-tier franchise, they remain a part of EuroLeague's long-term plans, with London also planned to be the home of one of two NBA Europe teams in its current plans.
Earlier this week, the first phase of a feasibility study was completed into the construction of a potential 15,000-capacity state-of-the-art arena that would serve as the Lions' home and has been backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
"We still believe in this market," said Motiejunas.
"We still all believe in unlocking the UK market because we know it's quite popular as a sport, maybe not a sport to come and watch, but the sport to come and participate.
"We're happy that they're there, we're still not giving up on this market and we think a lot of potential."
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
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Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) on X#Isles one of a handful of teams who have a scout in Chicago tonight.
